“Beware of the “Counteroffer” (Your future is at stake)
If you accept an offer from a new employer and, while resigning from your present Company, a Counteroffer is made – you should consider the following:

1. What type of company/firm do you really work for if you have to resign before they recognize and give you what you think you are worth? If the counteroffer package has been available all along, why have I not already received it? Where is the money for the counteroffer coming from? Is my next raise early? Most companies have strict wage and salary guidelines, which must be followed. Will this mean I won’t get an increase at next review?
2. Your company/firm will likely start looking for your replacement at a less costly price. You have now made your employer aware that you are not totally happy. From this day on, your loyalty will in many cases, be in question. When promotion time comes, your employer will remember who was loyal and who wasn’t. If times get tough, your employer may begin the cutback with you. Consider the fact that your present employer could be merely “buying time” with this counteroffer until they can locate your replacement. Suppose you were given an annual raise of $6K as a counteroffer. When they find a replacement for you in, say 60 days, then the cost to them is only $1,000.00. Is more money going to really change things in your present position? Consider the new opportunity you will be giving up that looked so favorable when you accepted it. The company may feel as though they have been “blackmailed” into giving you a raise, when you announced your decision to leave.
3. What were the circumstances, which caused you to consider a change? The same circumstances that now cause you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future even if you accept a counteroffer. Statistics show that if you accept a counteroffer, the probability of voluntarily leaving in six months or of being released within one year is extremely high. You should know that statistics compiled by the National Employment Association confirm the fact that over 80% of those people who elected to accept a counteroffer and stayed, are no longer with the same company six months later. The possibility of promotion is extremely limited for someone who has “given notice”. The company is vulnerable. They know it and will not risk giving more responsibility to someone who was planning to leave.
4. Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers will likely not be the same. You may lose the personal satisfaction of peer group acceptance.

REMEMBER: A counteroffer is not about what’s best for you;
it’s about what’s best for the company.

NOTE: Within a short period of time, most candidates who have accepted a counteroffer have called to indicate that they have made a mistake. The following are only a few of these types of calls.

• “The day I resigned, I realized that my manager set out to find a replacement for me - - at less money.”
• “When promotion time came around, my employer reminded me that he had to remember who had been loyal and who had considered making a move.”
• “My boss became aware that I was unhappy and when asked, I had revealed why. Since the situation could not be corrected long term, things have been very tense.”
• “I never actually received all the terms & conditions I was promised when I agreed to stay.”

We strongly urge you to carefully think about all these facts before making a final decision. It is your career and your livelihood. One imprudent mistake at any time could be very costly in terms of your professional growth.

OUR ADVICE: IF YOU INTEND TO STAY, DON’T RESIGN.
IF YOU RESIGN; DON’T STAY.